72-3258. Grant program for professional learning; prioritization of grants; reports to state board of education.

425 words·~2 min read·/ks/chapter-72/72-3258

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)Subject to appropriations therefor, the state board of education may award grants to high-quality professional learning providers to develop and implement teacher professional development programs for the computer science courses required to be taught pursuant to K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-3257 , and amendments thereto.

(b)Grants awarded pursuant to this section may be used for the following purposes:

(1)Providing high-quality professional learning;

(2)credentialing for computer science teachers, including, but not limited to, reimbursement to teachers or providers for professional learning, exam fees or college coursework;

(3)supporting computer science professional learning, including mentoring and coaching;

(4)creating resources to support implementation of this act;

(5)student recruitment; and

(6)the development of teacher preparation programs.

(c)As a condition of receiving a grant pursuant to this section, a high-quality professional learning provider shall submit an application to the state department of education on a form and in a manner determined by the state department of education. The application shall, at a minimum, address how the provider will:

(1)Recruit new and existing teachers with little to no computer science background;

(2)use research-based or evidence-based practices for high-quality professional development;

(3)focus the professional learning on the conceptual foundations of computer science;

(4)reach and support marginalized racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in computer science;

(5)provide teachers with concrete experience with hands-on, inquiry-based practices;

(6)accommodate both teacher and student needs; and

(7)ensure that participating districts shall begin offering a computer science course within the same or next school year after the teacher receives the professional learning.

(d)The state board of education shall prioritize the following applications:

(1)School districts that work in partnership with providers of high-quality professional learning;

(2)proposals that describe strategies to enroll female students, students from marginalized racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in computer science, students eligible for free and reduced-price meals, students with disabilities and English language learners; and

(3)proposals from rural or urban areas that experience difficulties providing computer science offerings.

(e)Each high-quality professional learning provider that receives a grant pursuant to this section shall annually report to the state board of education:

(1)The number of teachers prepared;

(2)the number of students reached;

(3)the number and percent of students reached disaggregated by gender, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status; and

(4)the number of teachers and school districts that implemented computer science courses versus the number of prepared teachers that attended professional learning.